But, if you’re going to watch a raft of kids who are going to be first-round NHL draft picks next June, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup at Rogers Place is, well, your cup of tea.

Pretty much every high-end NHLer has played in the under 18 men’s summer hockey championship, which has been a incubator to so many NHL careers starting with Paul Kariya at the very first one in Yokohama, Japan in 1991, Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, all first overall picks.

The rite of passage event has had many monikers — Phoenix Cup, La Copa Mexico, Pacific Cup, Four Nations, Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, now the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup — starting in Japan 27 years ago with detours to Mexico, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

Also a one-year exit to Nelson and Castlegar in 1996.

Last year’s 2017 Canadian roster featured 19 players who went in the first round of the 2018 NHL draft, including centre Barret Hayton (Arizona) at No. 5 and Lloydminster’s Ty Smith (Jersey) at No. 17 and the Oilers selection of Canadian team goalie Olivier Rodrigue, who went late in the second round.

“It’s a tricky thing for the mainstream (selling hockey in August),” said TSN draft expert Craig Button. “As good as it is and with as many good players who have come through this tournament, it’s still a largely unknown player base. But, for those fans trying to keep track of prospects for maybe their team in the next draft, this is it.

“This is a bridge to the next draft. If you want to watch top players this is an early look.”

Beginning in 1997, just four years after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the new nations Czech Republic and Slovakia began alternating as hosts. The two countries alternated until 2003, then co-hosted from 2003 through 2017.

The competition was renamed the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in 2007, three years after the death of the Czech hockey trailblazer who played for the Vancouver Canucks and coached Pittsburgh Penguins. He died in a car crash Aug. 16, 2004 at 54.

Now it’s the Hlinka Gretzky Cup from Monday through Saturday, with the 2018, 2020 and 2022 editions at Rogers Place, and the 2019 and 2021 tournament back in Europe.

Canada, Switzerland, Slovakia and Sweden will play together in a group here, while USA, Finland, Russia and Czech Republic will play in Red Deer before the playoff knockout stage at Rogers Place.

“Maybe there aren’t prodigies like a Connor McDavid or even a Jack Hughes (USA centre, projected top pick in 2019) in this tournament, which would be a reason to watch but this tournament is the beginning of the draft year for NHL scouts. And 19 players (North Americans and Europeans) who played in the 2017 Hlinka did go in the first round of this past June’s NHL draft,” said Button.

Cozens, born in the Yukon, maybe second or third after slam-dunk No. 1, USA centre Jack Hughes who played in the World Junior Showcase in Kamloops instead.

Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko, a dazzling talent, also was in Kamloops and won’t be at the Hlinka.

The possible first overall pick in 2020, Rimouski left-winger Alexis Lafreniere, who plays like a baby Jamie Benn, will also be on the Canadian squad. Swedish defenceman Tobias Bjornfot, the best defender in the 2019 draft pool, a Morgan Rielly skater, will also be here as well. Same for Russian forward Vasily Podkolzin and a Yankee Doodle Dandy, Arthur Kaliyev, who plays in Hamilton.

The United States Development program, which features Jack Hughes, isn’t sending any of its kids because of a timing issue (school) but, not to worry.

“Brock Boeser has played in this tournament. Ryan Poehling, Montreal’s first-round pick a few years ago did as well and they weren’t part of that US Development program,” said Button.

This Week's Flyers

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.